Apparatus for collecting waste polymer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for collecting polymer issuing from a spinneret includes a rotatable paddle wheel located below the spinneret for collecting the polymer and coalescing it into block form. A weight responsive indexing mechanism permits the wheel to rotate from one collecting position to the next, automatically dumping the polymer block and cutting the polymer tail attached.

United States Patent 1 Seaver et al.

[ 1 Nov. 25, 1975 1 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING WASTE POLYMER [75] Inventors: Charles Richmond Seaver; Stephen Everett Sewell, 11, both of Hixson, Tenn.

[73] Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & C0.,

Wilmington, Del.

[22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 523,128

[52] US. Cl. 425/72; 222/77; 425/215 [51] Int. Cl. D0lD 7/00 [58] Field of Search 425/72, 215, 216, 217;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,507,290 5/1950 Wright et al 222/77 X Yamada et a1 425/215 X Rees 425/217 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 369,458 3/1932 United Kingdom 222/368 Primary ExaminerRobert D. Baldwin [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for collecting polymer issuing from a spinneret includes a rotatable paddle wheel located below the spinneret for collecting the polymer and coalescing it into block form. A weight responsive indexing mechanism permits the wheel to rotate from one collecting position to the next, automatically dumping the polymer block and cutting the polymer tail attached.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING WASTE POLYMER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to melt spinning. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus for collecting waste polymer produced during a spinning machineupset period and coalescing it into reusable block form.

The shortage of polymer intermediates and the in-' creases in their prices have made the recovery and SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An apparatus for collecting polymer issuing from a spinneret into a quenching chimney includes a paddle wheel having a plurality of paddles for collecting polymer mounted for rotation in a chute housing positioned in said chimney below said spinneret. The paddles extend across said chimney and have outer edges that travel in a circular path as said paddle wheel rotates from one collecting position to the next. A mechanism is attached to the chute housing to permit the paddle wheel to index from one collecting position to the next in response to the amount of polymer collected on a paddle. A cutting blade is mounted in the housing above said paddle wheel and has a cutting edge oriented parallel to the outer edges of the paddles as they move past said blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation partly in section of a spinning machine quenching chimney with the collecting apparatus in position for use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collecting apparatus removed from the quenching chimney.

FIG. 3 is a side view in section of the indexing mechanism of the collecting apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the portion of the spinning machine chosen for purposes of illustration includes generally as components thereof, a support structure 10, a plenum chamber 12 located within the structure and a foraminous member 14 separating the plenum chamber and a quenching chimney 16. A collecting apparatus, generally designated is fastened within the chimney. The numeral 18 designates a spinneret located at the top of chimney 16 through which molten polymer is extruded to form filaments 19.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the collecting apparatus includes a box-like housing 22 enclosing a paddle wheel 24 extending substantially across and rotatably mounted therein. The box-like housing has upstanding side walls 23 joined by back wall 25 with a sloping bottom wall 27 extending downwardly from back wall 25 to serve as a chute. Located across the top portion of back wall 25 is ablade 29. The paddle wheel 24 includes four'paddles 26a-d extending outwardly from shaft 28 which is journalled in the side walls. The cutting blade- 29 has its .cutting edge oriented parallel to the outer edges of the paddles 26a-d as they move past the blade in the circular path indicated. An indexing mechanism 30 is fastened at the outer edge of a side wall 23 and extends into the path of the paddles.

FIG. 3 shows the indexing mechanism 30 which includes aframe32 which is mounted to a side wall 23 of the housing 22. A first lever 34 is pivotally mounted to the frame 32. One end of a link 36 is attached to the pivoted end of lever 34; the other endof the link carries asecond lever 38 pivotally mounted thereto. The first and second levers arebiased in opposite directions by springs 40, 42 connected between the respective levers and theframe 32. Lever 38 has a notch 39 cut in one edge for engaging the edge of opening 33 provided in the upper side of frame 32 to allow the lever 38 to extend through and move against the bias of spring 42. An opening 35 is also provided for the frame to allow first lever 34 to extend through the frame and move against the bias of spring 40.

In operation, when an upset occurs or if for any reason a spinning position must be pumped out, the collecting apparatus 20 is placed in the chimney 16 and fastened thereto (FIG. 1). It should be noted that the backwall 25 of the support structure blocks off the flow of air from the plenum 12 through the screen 14 and prevents the air from quenching filaments 19. The molten filaments are pumped into the paddle wheel where they flow together and form a solid block 190. In the collecting position shown, paddle 26a is resting against first lever 34. The size of block 19a is regulated by the tension of spring 40. When the desired weight is reached, the bias of spring 40 is overcome and lever 34 is pushed backward releasing the paddle wheel 24 for rotation. Also as lever 34 is pushed back, lever 38 is pushed up by link 36 until notch 39-engages the edge of opening 33 in frame 32 due to the bias action of spring 42. As the paddle wheel continues to rotate paddle 26b cuts the polymer tail between the spinneret l8 and the block 19a as it moves past blade 29. Paddle 26b then moves into the collecting position and begins to collect molten filaments to form a new block. Meanwhile, paddle 26c rotates downward to a point which allows block 19a to drop onto chute 27 and then to the floor. Paddle 26d moves past spring ratchet 37 and slams against lever 38 (FIG. 3), spending its forward momentum and causing lever 38 to release from frame 32 and drop down. Paddle 26d is prevented from moving backward by spring 37 and gently moves against lever 34 to await the build up of the next block and a repeat of the cycle.

The blade 29 is preferably made of a metal with high heat conductivity such as copper to conduct heat to the cutting edge of the blade to facilitate a clean cut. Sufficient clearance is maintained between the paddles 26a-d and the edge of blade 29 to avoid contact which would prevent the wheel from turning. On the other hand, clearance must not be too much to prevent cutting the tail.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for collecting polymer issuing from a spinneret into a quenching chimney comprising:

a paddle wheel having a plurality of paddles for collecting polymer mounted for rotation in said chimney below said spinneret, said paddles extending across said chimney and having outer edges travel- 1 ing in a circular path as said paddle wheel rotates a paddle wheel having a plurality of paddles for colfrom one collecting position to the next; lecting polymer mounted for rotation in said housmeans for indexing the paddle wheel from one polying below said spinneret, said paddles exteding mer collecting position to the next in response to a across said chimney and having outer edges traveldesired weight of polymer collected on a paddle; 5 ing in a circular path as said paddle wheel rotates and from one collecting position to the next;

a cutting blade mounted in said chimney adjacent means for indexing the paddle wheel from one polysaid circular path above said paddle wheel, said mer collecting position to the next in response to a blade having a cutting edge oriented parallel to the desired weight of polymer collected on a paddle; outer edges of the paddles as they move past said a cutting blade mounted in said housing adjacent said blade. circular path above said paddle wheel, said blade 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a having a cutting edge oriented parallel to the outer chute mounted in said chimney below said paddle edges of the paddles as they move past said blade; wheel, said chute extending downwardly from said pad- 1 and dle wheel and outwardly from said chimney. a chute mounted in said housing below said paddle 3. An apparatus for collecting polymer issuing from a wheel, said chute extending downwardly from said spinneret into a quenching chimney comprising: paddle wheel and outwardly from said chimney.

a housing positioned in said chimney; 

1. An apparatus for collecting polymer issuing from a spinneret into a quenching chimney comprising: a paddle wheel having a plurality of paddles for collecting polymer mounted for rotation in said chimney below said spinneret, said paddles extending across said chimney and having outer edges traveling in a circular path as said paddle wheel rotates from one collecting position to the next; means for indexing the paddle wheel from one polymer collecting position to the next in response to a desired weight of polymer collected on a paddle; and a cutting blade mounted in said chimney adjacent said circular path above said paddle wheel, sAid blade having a cutting edge oriented parallel to the outer edges of the paddles as they move past said blade.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a chute mounted in said chimney below said paddle wheel, said chute extending downwardly from said paddle wheel and outwardly from said chimney.
 3. An apparatus for collecting polymer issuing from a spinneret into a quenching chimney comprising: a housing positioned in said chimney; a paddle wheel having a plurality of paddles for collecting polymer mounted for rotation in said housing below said spinneret, said paddles exteding across said chimney and having outer edges traveling in a circular path as said paddle wheel rotates from one collecting position to the next; means for indexing the paddle wheel from one polymer collecting position to the next in response to a desired weight of polymer collected on a paddle; a cutting blade mounted in said housing adjacent said circular path above said paddle wheel, said blade having a cutting edge oriented parallel to the outer edges of the paddles as they move past said blade; and a chute mounted in said housing below said paddle wheel, said chute extending downwardly from said paddle wheel and outwardly from said chimney. 